Staats' Life-long Pool Habit Pays Off

March 16, 1989|By TONY ANTHONY Metro Sports Coordinator

Ronald Staats began shooting pool at the age of four.

And he's still doing it at the age of 38.

Recently, the Newport News Shipbuilding nuclear pipe welder came back with the Master level competition men's division title after competing in the largest singles 8-ball tournament at the Boat House in Norfolk.

Two hundred fifty-six men and 138 women from the Hampton Roads area, Richmond and Raleigh, N.C., com peted in the second Southern Amusement Pool League tournament for over $5,000 in prize money.

On the first day of the tournament (a Saturday) Staats played from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; on Sunday, he played from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Staats, a Denbigh resident, plays for the Breakers of Westgate Pub in Hampton. The Master level competition began with a field of 64, dwindling down by elimination to two, with Staats finally winning.

Staats has come a long way since starting with a little magnetic game of pool.

"It was a lot of fun to me at the time," Staats says. "But the older I got, the more serious the game got. But, it's still a whole lot of fun."

At the age of 12, Staats once "ran" a total of 258 balls while playing at the Boys Club on Jefferson Avenue.

"It was called spot pool. I put all 15 balls on the table and I would call my shots. I went through 258 before missing," Staats says.

Staats picked $1,000 for winning the singles title and another $100 for finishing fourth in regular play division.

"The prize money is great, but the 3-foot high trophy is very special and will sit in a place of honor in my new pool room," says Staats, who graduated from Warwick High in 1970. He pitched for the Farmers under Coach Jim Snow, now the athletic director and baseball coach at Menchville High School.

Staats was lefthanded pitcher but is a righthanded pool player.

Staats said he feels a "lot more comfortable" using his right hand. I hold the stick with my right hand but I guide it with my left hand. But I can play with either hand."

The following is a list of Peninsula winners (home area), amount won, team and location where they regularly play, and the city they represent: